Electric-heating system for steam locomotives



April 15 1924. 1,490,226

D. MOTTURA ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEM FOR STEAM LOCOMOTIVES Filed July 27. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnwntoz Dame 7: iCO M0 6 iura Patented Apr. :15; 1 l v UNITED STATES DOMENICO MOTTUBA, 01 CHISKOEaM, KIHNESOTA.

ELECTRIC-HEATING SYSTEM FOB; STEAK LOCOMOTIVES.

Application filed July 27, 1928. Serial No. 654,205.

To all/whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DOMENICO MOTI'URA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chisholm, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Heating Systems for Steam Locomotives, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a system for heating water to obtain steam for the cylinders of locomotives or other steam engines.

Ordinarily the locomotive is provided with a fire box for the boiler, but in the present invention no fire box is needed as the fines in the boiler are heated by electric coils. The object of the present invention is now to heat these coils by means of current generated by an electric motor driven by springs.

. Another object of the invention is to utilize exhaust steam to operate one or more steam turbines, and in turn to use the power soobtained to assist' jn the running of the electric motor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide storage batteries for the electric motor in case the spring coils were defective or insufficient for-the running of the electric motor.

One advantage of this invention is that as no fire is used for heating the fines, coal. with its consequent smoke and. dust as well as ashes, is unnecessary, thereby making the running of the engine much cleaner.

In the accompanying drawings, one embogiment of the invention is illustrated; an

Figure 1 represents a side elevation partly in section of a steam locomotive with the heating system, forming the subject matter of the present invention, installed therein;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the locomotive cab; and

Figure 3 is a section of the gear casing.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 represents a locomotive of any known construction having a boiler 11, cylinders 12 and steam chest 13, into which opens the live steam pipe 14 from the boiler 11, and at one side of the steam chest 13 an exhaust pipe 15 is provided.

Referrmg particularly to Figure 3, numeral 16 re resents a gear casing in which is containe a set of powerful springs 17,

which may be wound up by a lever 18. The outer ends of the starting springs 17 are secured in the spring box 19, which is provided with external teeth 20 engaging with a pinion 21. In the gear casing 16 is arranged a train of spur gears 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, which mesh in the order enumerated and are all actuated by the pinion 21.

On the shaft 28 for the spur gear 27, last in the train, is also rigidly mounted a. sprocket wheel 29 engaging with a chain 30 running over a. sprocket pinion 31. This pinion is secured on-the shaft 32 of the electric motor or generator 33, which stands on the floor of the locomotive cab.

A starting and stop ing lever 34 has fingers engagin with t e teeth of the spur gear 22 to old the same from turning against the action of the spring 17. When the spur ear 22 is held in this manner, the

springs 1 may be wound by oscillating the levers 18 preparatory to running the engine, and after the winding .of the springs, the gear train is started by lifting the lever 34 out of engagement with the spur gear 22. The generator 33 is thus started and will generate current feeding the coils 35 in the ues 36 of the boiler 11, suitable wire connection 56 being furnished between the generator and the coils for conducting current to the latter. As soon as sufiicient current has been generated to heat the coils 35, the latter will start t'o heat the water in the boiler.

Still another spur gear 37 is carried in the casing 16 and meshing with the spur gear 23, so as to revolve the shaft 38 upon which the spur gear 37 is mounted. This shaft 38 also carries a bevel gear 39 meshing with a pinion 40 which carries one of a pair of miter gears 41, the other being mounted on the spindle of the governor 42. Directly the gear train is started, the governor will also be set in motion to regulate the speed of the motor 23.

The exhaust pi e 15 connects with an other pipe 43 whlch runs rearwardly and opens into the casings of twin steam turbines 44. In this manner, the exhaust steam is utilized to run the turbines which are mounted on a common shaft 45 which carries a pulley 46 having belt connection 47 with the shaft 32 of the electric motor 33. In this manner, some of the steam power which otherwise would be wasted, is turned into use for assisting the steam turbines to operate the electric motor 33.

Between the T 48 which connects the exhaust pipe 15 with the pi 43 and'the live steam ipe 14, is inserte that, if necessary, the turbines 44 may be started by live steam. The T 48 carries a three-way throttle valve 50 operated by a lever 51 in the cab of the engine, which valve is arranged in such a manner that steam may be fed to the turbines from either one or both of the pipes 15 or 49, or shut off from the same altogether.

An inlet valve 52 for live steam to the steam chest 13, is operated from the cabin by a lever 53. The spent steam from the turbines is exhausted through a short pipe 54.

In the cab is also carried a set of storage batteries 55 to feed the electric motor 33 in case the spring power should fail, so that a by-pass 49 so no interruption in the heating of the coils 35 may be experienced.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In an electric heating system for a steam en ine having a boiler with fiues, heating coi s in said flues, a, generator electrically connected with said coils, a main source of ower comprising a spring actuated motor or the generator, a train of gears including a governor between the generator and the spring actuated motor and an oscillating lever for tensioning the spring of said motor; and an auxiliary source of power comprising a steam turbine, a pipe conduc ing exhaust steam from the engine to said turbine, and a belt drive between the turbine and said generator.

In testimony whereof I afiix my ,signature.

DOMENICO MOTTURA. [n 5.] 

